title: Variability in in vitro macrophage activation by commercially diverse bulk echinacea plant material is predominantly due to bacterial lipoproteins and lipopolysaccharides.
abstract: We previously reported that the majority of in vitro monocyte/macrophage activation exhibited by extracts of Echinacea and other botanicals depends upon bacterial lipopolysaccharides and Braun-type bacterial lipoproteins. We determined the contribution made by these bacterial components to the overall immune-enhancing activity detected in E. purpurea and E. angustifolia bulk root and aerial material obtained from six major growers/suppliers in North America. Substantial variation in activity (up to 200-fold) was observed in extracts of these materials when tested in two monocyte/macrophage cell lines. The majority of activity was negated by treatment with agents that target bacterial lipoproteins (lipoprotein lipase) and lipopolysaccharides (polymyxin B). Experiments comparing the activity of freeze-dried, freshly harvested Echinacea plants to those harvested and dried using various commercially relevant conditions suggest that postharvesting procedures do not substantially contribute to the variation observed in the commercial material.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, National Center for Natural Products Research, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi 38677-1848, USA.
authors.forename: Hemlata
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamta
authors.forename: Nirmal D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Pugh
authors.forename: Premalatha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Balachandran
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: Joko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sumiyanto
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Pasco
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry*; D003890:Desiccation / Q000379:methods; D020900:Echinacea / Q000737:chemistry*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008074:Lipoproteins; D010936:Plant Extracts